Small Oil Leak - any suggestions from where?

Ralsmith

Supercharged
Joined
Aug 13, 2019
Messages
441
Location
Pasadena CA
Ride
2011 Rocket 3 Roadster
Notice after a ride today a very small oil smear down left side of engine case behind oil tank. Cannot see any oil leaking from oil tank fittings and it looks wet by head gasket? Could I have a leaking head gasket? I did not see any all higher up by valve cover gasket. This is 2011 roadster with approx 23,000 miles on it. I do not see any dripping just the case is shiny and slightly wet
 

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Mine seeps in the exact location. I currently carry a square of paper towel and wipe down the area during rides so no one notices. Thinking cam cover gasket as it is wet all the up to the gasket spot. Coming up on 20K so a gasket replacement is in order.
 
I don’t think mine is wet all the way up to valve cover gasket, kind of hard to see unless I remove inlet. Hoping that’s all it is but looks like wet area starts at metal gasket that I think is head gasket?
 
If you look closely, there are small drain holes just above the (metal) head gasket., on the bottom left side edge of the head. These are moisture drains from the spark plug towers. The oil might be weeping from there. If it is, the oil has to be getting out through the cam cover gasket on that spark plug tower.

If the head gasket was leaking it would be coolant not oil.

1618953642032.png
 
If you look closely, there are small drain holes just above the (metal) head gasket., on the bottom left side edge of the head. These are moisture drains from the spark plug towers. The oil might be weeping from there. If it is, the oil has to be getting out through the cam cover gasket on that spark plug tower.

If the head gasket was leaking it would be coolant not oil.

1618953642032.png
That makes sense I did see some oil in one of those holes and had no idea what it was for or where it went. I really appreciate the input, I have a new valve cover on hand and getting ready to check valve clearances so real happy to see your suggestion. I think you are spot on
 
It's almost time to check your valves so it would be a good time to replace the valve cover gasket. You can check all the bolts are torqued correctly. It might just be a softly torqued bolt. Good time to install a RamAir filter and get rid of the duct work if you haven't yet.
 
That makes sense I did see some oil in one of those holes and had no idea what it was for or where it went. I really appreciate the input, I have a new valve cover on hand and getting ready to check valve clearances so real happy to see your suggestion. I think you are spot on
@R-III-R Turbo you were spot on, number 6 plug turret leaking.
A056A621-9521-4CFF-8DF2-1A7EA3FEEC6D.jpeg
 
If you look closely, there are small drain holes just above the (metal) head gasket., on the bottom left side edge of the head. These are moisture drains from the spark plug towers. The oil might be weeping from there. If it is, the oil has to be getting out through the cam cover gasket on that spark plug tower.

If the head gasket was leaking it would be coolant not oil.

1618953642032.png
I never realized that drain hole existed on our Rockets. Learned something again. Excellent call @R-III-R Turbo.

Next time I replace my VC gasket, I'm tempted to glue the thing down with dabs of cyanoacrylate super glue. These replacement gaskets seem to move too much.
 
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